Leucopis glyphinivora, a potential aphidophagous biocontrol agent? Predation and comparison with the commercial agent Aphidoletes aphidimyza

The silver fly Leucopis glyphinivora Tanasijtshuk (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae) is an aphidophagous predator during its larval stage. Few studies have examined the predation habits of this species for biological control. Larval voracity of L. glyphinivora was measured under laboratory and controlled greenhouse conditions and compared with a commercially available biocontrol agent, Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rondani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Laboratory tests were conducted in Petri dishes using Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on potato leaves. In greenhouse tests, predator voracity was evaluated with various plant-aphid treatments. In the laboratory, silver fly larvae consumed 39% more aphids than A. aphidimyza throughout their larval development. In the greenhouse, L. glyphinivora consumed more aphids than A. aphidimyza regardless of treatment. The highest voracities were obtained on tomato and bell pepper infested with M. persicae. No antagonistic predatory effects were observed when predators were used together. This study provides useful insight on L. glyphinoivora as an efficient aphid predator but more research is needed to establish its potential for biological control.